Smarten Up Your Stocking Stitch

I don't enjoy knitting large pieces of ordinary stocking stitch. There are lots of ways to liven up an endless sea of rows of knits and purls. Here are just a few to dress up an otherwise ordinary stitch. They work well on the back or front of a jumper or as a decoration on a sleeve. They are not difficult so you can still watch TV while working.

Andalusian Stitch
Simple Seed Stitch
Chevron Seed Stitch
Caterpillar Stitch

Let's take a look at each of these.

Andalusian Stitch

Andalusian Stitch

Not a complicated stitch at all. Can be worked over any number of stitches. There is one row only in 4 where you deviate from the basic stocking stitch structure and knit and purl in the same row.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K1, P1*
Row 4: Purl

Simple Seed Stitch

A simple seed stitch that can be worked in multiples of 4 stitches.
Row 1: *K3, P1*
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: K1, *P1, K3* P1, K2

Simple Seed Stitch

Chevron Seed Stitch

If you would like something with more detail then the Chevron Seed Stitch is a lovely one worked in multiples of 8.
Row 1: *P1, K3*
Row 2: *K1, P5, K1, P1*
Row 3: *K2, P1, K3, P1, K1*
Row 4: *P2, K1, P1, K1, P3*

Chevron Seed Stitch

Caterpillar Stitch

This is the oblique version of the caterpillar stitch. A horizontal version can also be done but I prefer the look of the slanted caterpillars. Worked in multiples of 8 stitches.
Row 1: *K6, P2*
Row 2: *P1, K2, P5*
Row 3: *K4, P2, K2*
Row 4: *P3, K2, P3*
Row 5: *K2, P2, K4*
Row 6: Purl

Oblique Caterpillar Stitch